The Seven Churches of Asia - Laodicea (Part 3)

Robert E. Surgenor

Revelation 3:14-22

During our stay in Laodicea we have become
quite educated through conversations with those who call
themselves Christians. They seemingly were not too interested in
the Scriptures nor in the Person that they were gathering to
professedly remember. They constantly talked to us about their
achievements and profitable investments. Various carefully
planned programs connected with the gathering occupied their mind
and of course the flesh-prompting sales advertised at the various
shopping centers. As we gather with the crowd in the hall, their
minds are on the colors and styles of their finery. The
Lords supper commences and the robot-like motions of the
brethren begin. The prayers are old and stale, reminding us of an
old worn-out tape player with only one tape to play. We are
uncomfortable. The letter continues to be read. It is inspired
and from the One who looked upon them with pity.

THE JUDGMENT OF THE LORD

"I know thy works, that thou art
neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then
because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew
(vomit) thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich,
and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest
not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind,
and naked" (Rev. 3:15-17).

There are three notable things indicated.(1)
He describes their general condition, "neither cold nor
hot." (2)He describes the church as it thinks it
is, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need
of nothing." (3)He reveals to them what they
actually are! "Thou art wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and naked." I wonder how many
assemblies today fit the description of this church ?

Regarding the city itself, Blaiklock writes,
"A society which lives in constant knowledge of its military
helplessness develops characteristics of pliability and
irresolution. Such a character can produce the kindlier virtues
of tolerance and broad-mindedness, but in the face of evil is
also likely to engender weakness and a reprehensible spirit of
compromise. Such, for good or ill, was the character Laodicea
produced. There was no challenge in Laodicea from Jew or pagan,
or if the challenge was there, the church did not accept
it." The environment of Laodicea drastically affected the
Christians and was unblushingly reflected in their behavior. They
were prosperous, polished, proud and powerless. Their complacency
and indifference was appalling. The discernment of the Lord
relative to this lukewarm church produced disgust. Thus He says
"I will vomit thee out of My mouth." In the lukewarm
bathing pools six miles north in Hieropolis, folks at times would
get water into their mouth. The water in those bathing pools
being saturated with sodium carbonate was distasteful, causing
them to spew it out of their mouths. It was a familiar sight to
the Laodiceans and the Lord uses such words to shock them out of
their complacency into a realization of their spiritual
condition.

The boastful spirit of the city had found its
way into the assembly and Christ exposes them to their own
estimation of themselves. They considered themselves rich and
increased with goods. How unlike the Lord of Whom it was said
concerning His sojourn, "Ye know the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He
became poor (destitute)" (2 Cor. 8:9). They were still
to be considered pilgrims, but the day of our Lords
pilgrimage was over and He in the glory was the truly rich One.
This was made known to them in the years past, as Paul states. "For
I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for
them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the
flesh; That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together
in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of
understanding, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of God, and
of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:1-3). Christ has the
true and lasting treasures! The assembly thought that they knew
everything. The problem was that their eyesight rose no higher
than the ceiling! They may have been rich in this worlds
goods, but in reality they were far from being rich in eternal
things. Oh the looks on the faces in the circle as these
unvarnished words are read. "Thou art wretched." The
only other time this word is employed is in Romans 7:24, "O
wretched man that I am!" They are distressed, crushed
with a burden of wealth. They thought that their wealth carried
them, when actually it was crushing them. Are we not warned that
"the love of money is the root of all evil" (1 Tim.
6:10)? Hoarding money for the very love of it. Making it the end
of life rather than the support of life. As another has aptly put
it, "There is no kind of evil that the craving for wealth
may not originate, once its roots become planted in the soil of
the heart." Laodicea was on dangerous ground!

The next expression betrays the tender
nurse-like sympathy of our Lords heart towards them. Thou
art "miserable." Again, like the word wretched,
this word "miserable" is only found in one other
scripture. "If in this life only we have hope in Christ,
we are of all men most miserable" (1 Cor. 15:19). The
force of the word is, "to be pitied." There is
not anger burning in our beloved Lords bosom, but rather
pity. He pitied them, because in reality they were poor
(destitute), they had no treasure in heaven. The word can be used
"to cringe as a beggar."

One is reminded of our Lords words many
years previous to our visit. "Lay not up for yourselves
treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where
thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your
treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matt.
6:19-21). Ask yourself, where is your treasure? Where is your
heart? Remember Gods lament regarding Israels closing
testimony? "Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me.
But ye say, wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and
offerings" (Mal. 3:8). How different in Israels
beginning. Moses had to restrain the people for bringing material
for the tabernacle "for the stuff they had was sufficient
for all the work to make it, and too much" (Ex. 36:7).
At Israels beginning they were willing-hearted,
wise-hearted, and liberal-hearted. At Israels close, they
were unwilling, ignorant, and stingy. How is it with us? Are we
honoring the Lord with our substance?

Giving to the Lord accomplishes many things.
(1)It ensures our blessing. "Honour the LORD
with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine
increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy
presses shall burst out with new wine" (Prov. 3:9,10). (2)It betrays my appreciation. "What shall I render
unto the LORD for all His benefits toward me?" (Ps.
116:12). (3)It proves the sincerity of my love. "In
a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their
deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality...I
speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of
others, and to prove the sincerity of your love" (2 Cor.
8:2,8). (4)It encourages the hearts of others."For
the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of
the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto
God" (2 Cor. 9:12). (5)As already expressed,
it lays up for the giver, treasure in heaven. Brother,
sister, are you poor, or, are you rich?

The Lord proceeds. Thou art "blind and
naked." What a deplorable condition! Peter speaks of
blindness. "But he that lacketh these things (virtue,
knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness,
charity) is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten
that he was purged from his old sins" (1 Pet. 1:9). He
lives for the present rather than the future. He is occupied with
material things to the neglect of the spiritual. He lacks
discernment of true spiritual values. He is BLIND! He has
forgotten his purging. The truth of his redemption has lost its
grip on his soul. He is flirting with the very sins that caused
the Lords death. Every economy seems to end in blindness.
The last of the judges (Samson, Eli) ended in blindness! The last
of the kings (Zedekiah), ended in blindness! The last of the
Pharisees (Jn.19:39-41), ended in blindness! The last of the
churches - ends in blindness! Poor naked church, absent of the
graces of Christ! The Lord beheld their shame (Rev. 16:15). How
deplorable! How shameful! How sickening! How sobering! How sad!

There is a stillness in the hall. How could it
be otherwise, after such words being read? There are variegated
looks in the circle; some of disgust, some of embarrassment, some
of shame, some of shock, some of insult, some of concern, some of
sorrow, some of anger. My dear brother and sister, when the
corrective word of the Lord comes in power into your heart, what
is your reaction? Measure yourself right now. Are you a
Philadelphian saint, or, are you a Laodicean Christian? I fear in
my own soul that I have a tendency towards the latter, rather
than towards the former. How about you? Let us linger here for
our Lord is about to reveal Himself as their investment
Consultant - how they can become rich. That should interest you,
should it not? Thank you for bearing with me through all these
soul-searching and self-condemning words. Hopefully next month
(D.V.) we shall meet again and if not here, we shall meet in the
land that is fairer than day.